Periphery-lit troffer light fixture retrofit systems and methods

• US 10,683,993 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2018
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Green, Scott A., Bluma, Joe, Tlachac, Matthew S., Stegemann, Paul, Scribante, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Evan P
• Application Number:
  US15/996,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20180274761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/02 Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence; bases for movable standing lamps F21V21/06
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A retrofitting kit includes at least one of an adapter bracket and a retainer configured to engage at least one of an existing troffer light fixture and a T-bar of a ceiling system and a door assembly configured to be held in the ceiling system by the at least one of the adapter bracket and the retainer. The door assembly has a housing, the housing including one or more sidewalls, where the one or more sidewalls extend upward to define a cavity, and a plurality of LEDs having primary light axes extending inward into the cavity. The plurality of LEDs are coupled to the one or more sidewalls and positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the housing from behind with a uniform distribution of light when engaged.

Claims

1. A retrofitting kit for retrofitting an existing troffer light fixture having a troffer housing, comprising:

at least one of an adapter bracket and a retainer configured to engage at least one of the existing troffer light fixture and a T-bar of a ceiling system; and

a door assembly configured to be held in the ceiling system by the at least one of the adapter bracket and the retainer, the door assembly including;

a housing including one or more sidewalls, wherein the one or more sidewalls extend upward to define a cavity; and

a plurality of LEDs having primary light axes extending inward into the cavity, the plurality of LEDs coupled to the one or more sidewalls and positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the housing from behind with a uniform distribution of light when engaged, wherein the plurality of LEDs are disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the housing thereby providing a low-profile lighting arrangement configured to fit within a space above the ceiling system.

2. The retrofitting kit of claim 1, wherein the one or more sidewalls extend in a generally vertical direction, wherein the plurality of LEDs are positioned such that the primary light axes thereof extend generally orthogonal to the one or more sidewalls such that light emitted by the plurality of LEDs is reflected by at least one of the housing and a reflector.

3. The retrofitting kit of claim 2, wherein the retainer is defined by a portion of the housing, wherein the housing has a width that is larger than the width of an opening defined by T-bars of the ceiling system such that engagement between the housing and the T-bars of the ceiling system holds the door assembly in place.

4. The retrofitting kit of claim 3, further comprising an enclosure configured to contain electronics therein, wherein the enclosure is disposed within the cavity thereby reducing the height of the door assembly.

5. The retrofitting kit of claim 4, wherein the housing of the door assembly includes a top panel that defines a portion of the cavity.

6. The retrofitting kit of claim 3, further comprising a lens including an arcuate portion coupled to the housing with one or more supports, wherein the lens is inset into the cavity.

7. The retrofitting kit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs are positioned such that the primary light axes thereof are directed toward at least one of the housing and a reflector.

8. The retrofitting kit of claim 1, wherein the primary light axes of the plurality of LEDs are directed inward thereby exposing at least a portion of the housing to a uniform distribution of light.

9. The retrofitting kit of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises four sidewalls positioned in a rectangular arrangement, wherein the plurality of LEDs are coupled to each of the four sidewalls.

10. The retrofitting kit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs are positioned in a linear array.

11. A light fixture, comprising:

a retainer configured to engage a T-bar of a ceiling system; and

a door assembly configured to be held in the ceiling system by the retainer, the door assembly including;

a housing including one or more sidewalls, wherein the one or more sidewalls extend upward to define a cavity; and

a plurality of LEDs having primary light axes extending inward into the cavity, the plurality of LEDs coupled to the one or more sidewalls and positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the housing from behind with a uniform distribution of light when engaged, wherein the plurality of LEDs are disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the housing thereby providing a low-profile lighting arrangement configured to fit within a space above the ceiling system.

12. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the one or more sidewalls extend in a generally vertical direction, wherein the plurality of LEDs are positioned such that the primary light axes thereof extend generally orthogonal to the one or more sidewalls such that light emitted by the plurality of LEDs is reflected by at least one of the housing and a reflector.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the retainer is defined by a portion of the housing, wherein the housing has a width that is larger than the width of an opening defined by T-bars of the ceiling system such that engagement between the housing and the T-bars of the ceiling system holds the door assembly in place.

14. The light fixture of claim 13, further comprising an enclosure configured to contain electronics therein, wherein the enclosure is disposed within the cavity thereby reducing the height of the door assembly.

15. The light fixture of claim 14, wherein the housing of the door assembly includes a top panel that defines a portion of the cavity.

16. The light fixture of claim 13, further comprising a lens including an arcuate portion coupled to the housing with one or more supports, wherein the lens is inset into the cavity.

17. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the plurality of LEDs are positioned such that the primary light axes thereof are directed toward at least one of the housing and a reflector.

18. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the primary light axes of the plurality of LEDs are directed inward thereby exposing at least a portion of the housing to a uniform distribution of light.

19. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises four sidewalls positioned in a rectangular arrangement, wherein the plurality of LEDs are coupled to each of the four sidewalls.

20. A method for retrofitting an existing troffer light fixture using a door assembly, comprising:

removing a door of the existing troffer light fixture;

disconnecting wiring from a power source to the existing troffer light fixture;

wiring the door assembly to the wiring from the power source; and

installing the door assembly within a ceiling system with which the existing troffer light fixture is associated, wherein installing the door assembly includes inserting a housing of the door assembly through an opening in the ceiling system and thereafter lowering the housing such that a portion of the door assembly engages a T-bar of the ceiling system, wherein the door assembly includes a plurality of LEDs coupled to one or more sidewalls of the housing.